MLA Broyce Jacobs

As summer draws to a close and students prepare for another successful year, our thoughts turn to fall and the harvest season.  After already enjoying the Cardston Parade and the World Miniature Chuck Wagon Racing Championship Races at the Remington Carriage Centre in Cardston, I’m looking forward to ending August celebrating and talking with constituents at the Taber Cornfest.
This month, I hosted a BBQ for PC Leadership Candidate, Mr. Gary Mar at Lion’s Park in Cardston.  We had over 200 people attend to meet Gary and hear him speak.  Thank you to everyone who helped to make the BBQ a huge success and thank you to everyone that attended.
I was pleased that Premier Stelmach was able to attend the 2011 South West Alberta Regional PC Golf Tournament and Dinner at Paradise Canyon Golf & Country Club on August 8. It was a fun day with plenty of sunshine.  
I had the pleasure of attending the Opening Ceremonies of the Junior Little League Baseball Championshipsin Lethbridge at the Spitz Stadium.  It’s always wonderful to see the enthusiasm and talent of these kids.
Alberta Health Services delivers health care services to all 3.7 million Albertans.  AHS is the largest, single health care providerin Canada and the largest employer in Alberta with 90,000 staff.  AHS has an $11 billion budget ($9 billion funded by the Province of Alberta) and $5 billion worth of capital projects in progress.  AHS is focused on access, quality and sustainability.  Their goal is to create the best performing, publically funded health care system in Canada.  Here’s how the South Zone of AHS is meeting these goals:
    Radiation Therapy comes to Lethbridge – Cancer patients in southern Alberta receive their radiation treatment closer to home with the opening of the Jack AdyCancer Centre in Lethbridge.  The facility has two radiation vaults; each provides treatment to 30 patients a day.
    More Choices for Seniors– New supportive living facilities have opened in Lethbridge, Raymond, Cardston and Taber.  Combined, these facilities add hundreds of continuing care beds and wide range of living options.  
Some facts about the South Zone:
    Population:   271,305
    Population 65 + years: 36,286 (13.4 per cent)
    Life expectancy at birth: 79.6 years
    Number of capital projects currently underway: 63
    Net value of projects underway: $54.8 million
Interesting yearly facts about Alberta Health care:
    Surgeries:  247,000
    Births:  50,000
    Lab procedures: 60 million
    MRI exams:  147,000
    CT exams:  419,000
    Home care hours: 10 million
    HEALTHLinkcalls:  900,000
    Immunizations:  1.3 million

It’s always a great pleasure to be able to meet constituents of all backgrounds and ages.  If you have any questions, concerns or issues you’d like to discuss, please feel free to contact my office in Cardston at (403) 653-5100 or in Taber at 1-888-600-6080.  I can also provide congratulatory scrolls for birthdays 65 years and older and wedding anniversaries in five year increments, starting at 25 years.